Kolkata: 5 Dead, 25 Injured After Goods Train Collides with Express Train in West Bengal
In a tragic incident this morning, five passengers lost their lives and at least 25 others were injured when an express train collided with a goods train in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. The Kanchanjunga Express, traveling from Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata, was struck from behind by a goods train near Rangapani station, close to New Jalpaiguri.
Two coaches of the Kanchanjunga Express were derailed in the collision, according to reports. Additional details regarding the accident are still forthcoming.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that medical professionals and disaster response teams have been dispatched to the scene. “I am deeply shocked to learn about the tragic train accident that just occurred in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. Initial reports indicate that the Kanchanjunga Express was struck by a goods train. Details are still coming in, but we have already sent the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, doctors, ambulances, and disaster response teams to the site to provide rescue, recovery, and medical assistance. Immediate action is being taken on a war footing,” she wrote on X.
The Kanchanjunga Express, a daily service, links West Bengal with the northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala. This critical route passes through the Chicken’s Neck corridor, a narrow stretch that connects the Northeast with the rest of India. The accident on this line could potentially disrupt the movement of numerous other trains.
The Kanchanjunga Express is a popular choice for tourists heading to Darjeeling. The incident comes as Kolkata and the surrounding areas in southern Bengal are experiencing an oppressive summer, prompting many to seek respite in the hills.
Preliminary information suggests that the goods train ran a red signal and collided with the Kanchanjunga Express. National Disaster Response Force teams and ambulances have been dispatched to the scene. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is reportedly overseeing the situation from the Railways war room in Delhi.
One mitigating factor in limiting human casualties during the accident was that the rear portion of the Kanchanjunga Express consisted of a cargo van and the guard’s coach, while the passenger coaches were positioned further forward.
The Railways have provided helpline numbers for those seeking information about the incident. The helpline numbers are as follows: 033-23508794 and 033-23833326 for Sealdah, and 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, and 0361-2731623 for Guwahati.
Photo: The Indian Express
